Sidewalks On The Corner

Link: http://sidewalkstv.com/specialfeatures/movies/splice.html

Academy Award® winner Adrien Brody ("The Pianist") and Sarah Polley ("Dawn of the Dead") are scientists splicing together DNA from different animals. When they start doing their own secret experiment, a new hybrid comes alive. "Cube" director Vincenzo Natali brings us the sci-fi thriller, "Splice."

Follow up:

SPLICE
Warner Bros. Pictures / Dark Castle Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language.
Starring: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac
Directed by: Vincenzo Natali
Written by: Story by Vincenzo Natali & Antoinette Terry Bryant
Screenplay by Vincenzo Natali & Antoinette Terry Bryant and Doug Taylor
Produced by: Steven Hoban
Executive Produced by: Joel Silver, Sidonie Dumas, Guillermo del Toro, Susan Montford, Don Murphy, Christophe Riandee and Yves Chevalier.
URL: www.splicethefilm.com

Studio Synopsis:
Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing together DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, Clive and Elsa secretly conduct their own experiments. The result is Dren, an amazing, strangely beautiful creature that exhibits uncommon intelligence and an array of unexpected physical developments. And though, at first, Dren exceeds their wildest dreams, she begins to grow and learn at an accelerated rate—and threatens to become their worst nightmare.

"Splice" stars Academy Award® winner Adrien Brody ("The Pianist," "Hollywoodland," "King Kong"); Sarah Polley ("Dawn of the Dead," "The Secret Life of Words"), also a Best Screenplay Oscar® nominee for "Away From Her"; and newcomer Delphine Chaneac ("The Pink Panther") in the role of the creature Dren.

"Splice" is directed by Vincenzo Natali ("Paris je t'aime," "Cube") from a screenplay by Natali & Antoinette Terry Bryant and Doug Taylor, story by Vincenzo Natali & Antoinette Terry Bryant. The film is produced by Steven Hoban and executive produced by Joel Silver and Sidonie Dumas. Also serving as executive producers are Guillermo del Toro, Susan Montford, Don Murphy, Christophe Riandee and Yves Chevalier.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Tetsuo Nagata (Cesar Award winner for "La mome" and "La chambre des officiers"); editor Michele Conroy (Directors Guild of Canada Award winner for "Nothing"); production designer Todd Cherniawsky (art director, "Avatar"); and costume designer Alex Kavanagh (the "Saw" films). The music is by Cyrille Aufort.

(L-r) ADRIEN BRODY as Clive Nicoli and SARAH POLLEY as Elsa Kast in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Dark Castle Entertainment's science fiction thriller "SPLICE," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

J.P.'s Take:
“Splice” is a modern creature feature that takes the classic God creates man, man creates beast approach. Along the way there are some interesting, if not weird twists. You immediately get a since of uneasiness as the creepy opening credits appear. Accompanying those credits is an eerie soundtrack that suggests a wicked, vehement force is lurking in the darkness of the theater. You’d expect a heart pounding, blood drenched viewing from start to finish. That wasn't the case initially. Allow me to set the stage.

The brilliant minds at the appropriately named N.E.R.D. (Nucleic Exchange Research and Development) labs have accomplished what no other has set out to do: create the perfect life form. These extraordinary organisms are the brainchildren, so to speak, of geneticists Clive Nicoli (Adrien Brody) and Elsa Kast (Sarah Polly). Considered rock stars of the genetic engineering world, the two of them take further steps in creating an even more perfect being. They decide to speed the evolutionary process and integrate human DNA into their little science experiment. Dren (Delphine Chaneac) is the byproduct.

This little monster movie at its basic form becomes a huge lesson in inter-species parenting. The Clive and Elsa characters can be viewed as the doting parents, dealing with a child with special needs. Though these new parents have brought a new life into this world, however, they were highly ill-equipped for the challenges they would face in raising the child. That’s what separates this sci-fi flick from the rest. There is a mother/daughter connection between Elsa and Dren at first; on the other hand, Clive feels this whole experiment was a mistake. In other words, he is the doubtful father figure. Clive does not relinquish his position on the issue. Try as he might to convince Else of this, somehow a transformation begins in Clive as Dren starts to evolve. I can't help feeling like the theme here smacks of some pro-life PSA campaign.

For Dren going through puberty is hell; you would think her emotions are those of a normal teenager. Instead, she discovers she is not the average teen, but something far more threatening to the human race. So like a rebellious youngster, she lashes out at her parents, mainly Elsa. That's where the situation takes a really bizarre turn for the worst. There is an odd relationship that develops between Clive and Dren of an incestuous nature. I can guarantee this will freak many viewers out. I feel director Vincenzo Natali was going for shock value when creating that moment, which I can tell you works, because it’s something you really don't expect. Some would find that creepy and just plain disturbing. It is in fact disturbing; however, what caused me to reevaluate the situation is trying to understand that relationship. Is this really about science or is there some underlying issue that needed to be resolved. What’s more interesting is that the director has the guts to display that on screen.

Once I got past some of the cheesy acting, I became immersed in the moment as the story became more intriguing. Blame most of the cheesiness on the actors, who felt like they needed to drive home a point. They were trying a little too hard though.

DELPHINE CHANEAC as Dren in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Dark Castle Entertainment's science fiction thriller "SPLICE," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Polly played up her motherly role, when Dren did something wrong, she would scold her like a toddler. David Hewlett, who is best known to sci-fi fans as Dr. Rodney McKay on Stargate Atlantis, gave a refreshing performance playing the cooperate pit bull, who represented one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Hewlett, who is a close friend to the director and has appeared in Natali’s major films, was a very different from his role as McKay. If Hewlett is a pit bull, then Simona Maicanescu (playing N.E.R.D. C.E.O. Joan Chorot) is the Gestapo of the pharmaceutical world; her demanding performance made those around her fear her wrath. Paris-born actress and newcomer to North American features Delphine Chaneac creeped me out just a little with her portrayal of adult Dren; not only was she child-like, but wicked in a cerebral way. The younger version of Dren, played by Abigail Chu, provided the cute and weird factor for the early part of the film.

As for the blood shed, it was really kept at a minimum. The only real bloody scenes are those where, the organisms where being unveiled to the public for the first time. They attack each other with a vengeance. That’s really all there is.

All in all, “Splice” is one of the strangest creature tales told so far. I look back on movies like “Prophecy” and “Species” that are just as bizarre; this almost tops them in it's own shocking way. But I must admit to some extent, I liked watching what would unfold on screen. I could not take my eyes off the screen. Although I have to warn those who are easily offended or disturbed, they may want to proceed with caution in seeing this movie.

Watch our interview with director Vincenzo Natali

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J.P. Langston is a member of "Sidewalks Entertainment" team primarily as a videographer. He loves movies, especially sci-fi horror and action comedies. Some of his favorite films include "Blade Runner" "The Matrix Trilogy," The (original) "Star Wars," "Equilibrium," "Serenity," "Kill Bill Vols 1 and 2," "Appleseed," "Unbreakable" and "Sin City." He has a large DVD collection, which is still growing. Since reviewing films for "Sidewalks," he has been expanding his palette for all types of films.